Running a small business means wearing every hat — CEO, accountant, salesperson, and yes, HR department.
Most small business owners know they probably should have HR documentation. But between everything else on the to-do list, it keeps getting pushed to “later.”
Here’s the problem: “later” usually becomes “after something goes wrong.”
These are the five HR documents you need in place — today.
1. EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK
This is the big one. Your employee handbook is your business’s rulebook. It sets expectations, explains policies, and — critically — protects you legally.
It doesn’t need to be 100 pages. For a small business, 15-25 pages covering the essentials is plenty:
– Company mission and values
– Employment basics (at-will status, equal opportunity)
– Workplace conduct expectations
– PTO and leave policies
– Anti-harassment policy
– Acknowledgment page (employees sign that they received it)
Why it matters: Without a handbook, every workplace dispute becomes a “he said / she said.” With one, you have documentation that expectations were clearly communicated.